The Kansas City Star
05 June 2011
By GLENN E. RICE
In a statement read to Catholics across Kansas City on Sunday, Bishop Robert Finn accepted responsibility for not responding to warnings about a priest now accused of possessing child pornography.
Finn, leader of the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese, has come under sharp criticism after the Rev. Shawn F. Ratigan was charged last month with possessing child pornography.
“As bishop, I take full responsibility for these failures and sincerely apologize to you for them,” Finn said in the statement that was read to 98 parishes. “Clearly, we have to do more.”
Last week, Finn acknowledged that he did not heed past warnings about Ratigan’s behavior and expressed regret about the handling of the case. A principal of a Catholic school in Kansas City, North, warned the diocese a year ago about Ratigan’s troubling behavior around girls, but the diocese did not officially notify police until last month.
Ratigan, 45, of Kansas City, North, is charged in Clay County with three counts of possessing child pornography — photos taken while working for churches and schools in the area. Ratigan has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody, with bond set at $200,000.
On Thursday night, the diocese announced that Finn has removed another priest from his duties because of “credible reports” of sexual misconduct with minors.
“These are sobering realities, particularly for those who knew and trusted them,” he said. “We are assessing what went wrong and applying our analysis as we move forward.”
Finn’s apology on Sunday fell short for David Clohessy, executive director of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests.
He called the bishop’s words “cheap” and “vague.”
“As long as he keeps using words like ‘failure’ and ‘error’ instead of words like ‘complicity’ and ‘secrecy,’ there will be no reform or healing,” Clohessy said. “There’s no indication that (the apology) is predicated on a real understanding or admission of his wrongdoing.”
A group of Catholics protested across the street from the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, calling on Finn to resign. Nearby, other Catholics prayed in support of Finn and church unity.
In a statement issued late Saturday, Finn said that he would continue to cooperate with local authorities.
“These past few weeks, all of us have endured the consequences of our human failure,” he said. “The destructive sins of a few and the serious lapses in communication have caused us shame, anger and confusion.”
Finn added: “There are victims that are hurting, and others who have been left vulnerable by our processes.”
During the past week, Finn said, he has met with the chair of the diocese’s Independent Review Board. Finn said he would continue to meet with parishioners, clergy and chancery staff.
“While we must deal with these difficult and trying issues, we also must give thanks for the daily accomplishments of our lay faithful, priests and others for the many good works that continue on behalf of neighbors, sick or poor, young or old,” he said.
The destructive sins of “a few” and “the serious lapses in communication'” ?
What? Is that the serious “lapses” in communciation of the many? or, is that also ” a few”?
These are the first sitting pastors in the Diocese to be removed in more than 20 years? We should be surprised? Given what it took to finally get the bishop et al to pay attention and finally get Father Ratigan dealt with, we shoud be surprised?
Another little Episcopal failure. That’s all. Just another little Episcopal failure.
Pathetic!
have caused “us” “shame, anger, and confusion?